# The Wily Lion explained — Aesop's Fables

> Chapter companion for Aesop's Fables by Aesop.

## What happens

A hungry Lion, afraid of a Bull's sharp horns, uses flattery to persuade the Bull to cut off his horns. The foolish Bull complies, losing his only defense, and is then easily killed and eaten by the Lion.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cunning and Deception

The Lion resorts to artifice and flattery to achieve his goal, deceiving the Bull into giving up his defense.

### Wisdom and Foolishness

The Bull's foolishness in trusting flattery and giving up his horns contrasts with the Lion's cunning wisdom.

## Character check-ins

### The Lion

The wily predator who uses flattery to overcome the Bull's natural defense.

### The Bull

The foolish victim who is persuaded by flattery to remove his horns, leading to his demise.

## Key lines

> A Lion watched a fat Bull feeding in a meadow, and his mouth watered when he thought of the royal feast he would make, but he did not dare to attack him, for he was afraid of his sharp horns.

A Lion saw a plump Bull grazing and eagerly imagined a grand meal, yet he hesitated to attack because the Bull's sharp horns posed a threat.

_Establishes the Lion's desire and the obstacle of the Bull's horns._

> Going up to the Bull in friendly fashion, he said to him, “I cannot help saying how much I admire your magnificent figure. What a fine head! What powerful shoulders and thighs! But, my dear friend, what in the world makes you wear those ugly horns? You must find them as awkward as they are unsightly. Believe me, you would do much better without them.”

Approaching the Bull with feigned friendliness, the Lion praised his physique but criticized his horns as ugly and cumbersome, suggesting he would be better off without them.

_The Lion's flattery and manipulation are central to the deception._

> The Bull was foolish enough to be persuaded by this flattery to have his horns cut off; and, having now lost his only means of defence, fell an easy prey to the Lion.

The Bull naively believed the flattery and allowed his horns to be removed, leaving him defenseless and easily killed by the Lion.

_The moral conclusion: flattery can lead to ruin._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters/the-wily-lion
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/fables_se/chapters